June 3, 2011 - In separate cases, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) assessed civil penalties against Continental Airlines and US Airways for violating the Department’s rules prohibiting deceptive price advertising in air travel. Continental was assessed a civil penalty of $120,000 and US Airways $45,000. 

“Protecting the rights of airline consumers is a high priority for the Department of Transportation,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “Passengers have the right to know how much they will have to pay when they buy an airline ticket, and we will continue to take enforcement action when these rules are violated.” 

In Internet listings, these taxes and fees may be disclosed through a prominent link next to the stated fare noting that taxes and fees are extra, and the link must take the consumer directly to a listing of the type and amount of taxes. Under DOT’s recently adopted consumer rule that enhances protections for air travelers, carriers will be required, among other things, to include all government taxes and fees in advertised fares beginning Oct. 24. 

A review of Continental’s website by the Department’s Aviation Enforcement Office revealed instances in which the carrier failed to include fuel surcharges in its listed fares.  Consumers selecting flights from their nearest airport were shown a base fare that excluded fuel surcharges, and it was only on the third page selected that they were shown the full fare including the surcharge, which often was significantly higher. 

In one example, a fare from San Jose, Calif., to San Salvador, El Salvador, was shown as $298 on the first two pages, but was listed as $538 once the fuel surcharge was added on the third page.